SINGAPORE, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As the festive season approaches, the holiday spirit is in full swing, and Christmas emerges as one of the most anticipated travel moments of the year. For those yearning for a European Christmas market experience without leaving Asia, digital travel platform Agoda unveils a curated guide to Asia’s most enchanting destinations to celebrate Christmas. Whether traveling with family, friends, or loved ones, Asia offers a diverse array of festive celebrations that capture the essence of the holiday season.

From twinkling lights to festive music and comforting holiday food, these markets and festivals provide a magical backdrop for creating unforgettable memories. Here are some of the best destinations in Asia to immerse in the joy and wonder of Christmas markets and festivals:

1.       Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo’s Christmas markets are a delightful spectacle, with the Tokyo Christmas Market in Hibiya Park standing out as a favorite. Visitors can enjoy German-style stalls, festive decorations, and a towering Christmas pyramid, making it a perfect spot to soak in the holiday cheer.

2.       Seoul, South Korea: The Seoul Christmas Festival at Cheonggyecheon Stream is a must-visit for its stunning light displays, festive music, and a variety of food and craft stalls. This vibrant celebration offers a unique blend of Korean culture and Christmas traditions, creating a truly memorable experience.

3.       Hong Kong: WinterFest in Hong Kong transforms the city into a festive wonderland, featuring Christmas markets, dazzling light displays, and lively entertainment. The Christmas Wonderland at West Kowloon is particularly popular, offering a magical escape for holiday revelers.

4.       Taipei, Taiwan: Taipei’s Christmasland in New Taipei City is renowned for its breathtaking light displays and festive markets. Visitors can indulge in a wide range of holiday treats and gifts, making it a perfect destination for those seeking a festive atmosphere.

5.       Bangkok, Thailand: While not traditionally associated with Christmas, Bangkok embraces the holiday spirit with several festive markets. Central World has teamed up with Disney to create a winter fantasy called Disney the Magical Stars. The German Christmas Market at the Goethe-Institute and ICONSIAM Bangkok Illumination 2025 add to the city’s festive charm.

6.       Singapore: Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay is a highlight of Singapore’s festive offerings. With its European-style Christmas market, light sculptures, and festive performances, it provides a magical setting for celebrating the holiday season.

Jun Dong, Associate Vice President at Agoda, shared, “Asia’s Christmas markets offer a unique and vibrant way to celebrate the festive season. These destinations not only provide a taste of European holiday traditions but also showcase the rich cultural diversity of the region. Agoda is thrilled to help travelers discover these magical experiences, making it easier to plan unforgettable holiday getaways.”

Agoda offers over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in the same booking. Discover the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app and start planning your next adventure today.

TOKYO, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ricoh has been named a leader in Quocirca’s Sustainability Leaders 2025 report, recognising its continued leadership and progress in driving sustainable innovation across its operations, supply chain, and customer solutions.

The independent study highlights Ricoh’s comprehensive approach to sustainability, combining measurable carbon reduction, circular economy innovation, and data-driven services that help customers achieve their own sustainability goals. Based on Quocirca’s scoring methodology, the market research firm positions Ricoh among the office print industry’s top performers for the completeness of its sustainability-led offerings and the strength of its sustainability strategy and commitments.

Key highlights from the report

• Accelerating towards net zero
  Ricoh has set an accelerated goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its value chain by 2040. The company has already reduced Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect from purchased energy) emissions by 59% from its 2015 baseline, achieved a 15% year-over-year total emissions reduction, and increased its renewable electricity usage to 43% globally, with a target of 100% by 2040.
• Championing the circular economy
  Ricoh devices are engineered for high energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact, achieving leading ecolabel certifications, including EPEAT, Ecologo, Blue Angel, and SuMPO. Devices are lighter and resource-efficient across their entire lifecycle – from manufacturing to end-of-life recovery. Through maximising reuse of components and expanding sales of factory-remanufactured and refurbished multifunction printers (MFPs), Ricoh continues to advance its circular economy goals.
• Empowering customers with data-driven sustainability
  Quocirca commended Ricoh’s range of sustainability services for providing customers with transparent, measurable carbon data and offsetting aligned with the Oxford Offsetting Principles.
• Embedding ESG principles across the value chain
  Ricoh continues to embed Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations across all aspects of its business, supported by a unified spend management platform that integrates ESG criteria into procurement processes. This approach helps Ricoh monitor supplier practices, reduce Scope 3 emissions, and prioritise sustainable sourcing.

The Quocirca report also noted that Ricoh is an active member of global sustainability initiatives, including the UN Global Compact, RE100, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Ricoh also maintains an “A” score from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for climate change and water security disclosure.

“Ricoh retains a leadership position in our 2025 Sustainability Vendor Landscape assessment”, said Louella Fernandes, CEO of Quocirca. “Over the past year, the company has progressed its efforts in several areas, including increasing its global electricity consumption from certified 100% renewable sources; continuing to make operational and manufacturing changes to reduce its carbon footprint, expanding reuse and recycling initiatives; and investing in a unified spend management platform to embed ESG criteria into procurement processes.”

“Ricoh is honoured to be recognised by Quocirca as a Sustainability Leader for 2025,” said Kei Uesugi, Managing Director, Ricoh Asia Pacific. “This recognition reaffirms our long-term commitment to creating a positive impact for our customers, communities, and the planet.”

Related News

• Ricoh publishes the Ricoh Group’s 2025 Integrated Report and Sustainability Report https://www.ricoh-ap.com/news/2025/11/05/ricoh-publishes-the-ricoh-groups-2025-integrated-report-and-sustainability-report
• Ricoh perovskite solar cells installed on Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency cargo transfer spacecraft1 HTV-X1 https://www.ricoh-ap.com/news/2025/10/28/ricoh-perovskite-solar-cells-installed-on-spacecraft1-htv-x1
• Ricoh named in TIME World’s Best Companies of 2025 for employee engagement, growth and sustainability https://www.ricoh-ap.com/news/2025/09/18/ricoh-named-in-time-worlds-best-companies-of-2025-for-employee-engagement-growth-and-sustainability

Related Links

• Ricoh Group: Seven Material Issues and SDGs https://www.ricoh.com/sustainability/materiality
• Ricoh Group: Commitment and Recognition https://www.ricoh.com/about/integrated-report/data/commitment

About Ricoh

Ricoh is a leading provider of integrated digital services and print and imaging solutions designed to support the digital transformation of workplaces, workspaces and optimise business performance.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh’s global operation reaches customers in approximately 200 countries and regions, supported by cultivated knowledge, technologies, and organisational capabilities nurtured over its 85-year history. In the financial year ended March 2025, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,527 billion yen (approx. 16.8 billion USD).

It is Ricoh’s mission and vision to empower individuals to find ‘Fulfilment through Work’ by understanding and transforming how people work so we can unleash their potential and creativity to realise a sustainable future.

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com

HONG KONG, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Facing the increasingly apparent impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on education, productivity and workplace skill requirements, how should students respond to this new opportunity to lead the way in this new era of AI? Led by Hong Kong Baptist University and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway (CLAP-TECH) joins hands with various secondary schools, industry partners, and students and graduates to share observations and insights from the education sector, business community, and young generation on the future opportunities in the age of AI.

Mr. Andrew Ho, Director of Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Centre

“CLAP-TECH is committed to helping students develop self-directed learning abilities and both soft and hard skills by aligning their strengths and interests with practical experience. Through a tripartite collaboration among secondary schools, industry partners, and Hong Kong Baptist University, the programme enables them to explore diverse pathways.

In today’s fast-advancing technological landscape, students can use tools such as AI to efficiently understand knowledge, quickly integrate and refine ideas, and transform abstract concepts into tangible outcomes. However, conquering technology alone is not enough to meet future and workplace challenges. CLAP-TECH provides students with hands-on experience and nurtures essential soft skills, such as analytical thinking, critical thinking, and creativity, through learning and various out-of-classroom activities. This empowers them to harness technology effectively, adapt to the future workplace, and be well-prepared for career development and the challenges of an evolving society.“

Mr. Kelvin Shiu, Deputy General Manager, Digital Media, HK & TW, Adobe, CLAP-TECH Industry Partner

“Adobe is at the forefront of creative technology innovation. With the popularisation of AI, we are fundamentally reshaping the creative workflow.

Today, AI has significantly lowered the technical barrier to creation, making us realise that mere execution is no longer the core competency. What truly sets people apart is an excellent ability to conceptualise, including insight, creativity, and the ability to create unique visual experiences—this is the key to success.

Therefore, when facing the future, the next generation of creative talent in Hong Kong must not only master AI tools but also focus on cultivating a series of critically important soft skills. This includes deep insight, critical thinking, identifying market pain points, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively in a creative manner. The value of future talent lies in their ability to dance with technology, propose novel concepts, and build memorable experiences.“

Ms. Mimi Poon, General Manager, IBM Hong Kong, CLAP-TECH Industry Partner

“In the age of AI, the skills gap is a difficult challenge across all industries, requiring cooperation from all sectors of society.

For instance, IBM SkillsBuild is a free digital learning platform offering over a thousand online courses, including AI, for adults, high-school students, university students, and teachers to explore new technologies, cultivate essential future-proof skills, and earn digital certificates. IBM encourages students to engage with AI at an early stage, proactively utilise these complementary resources for self-study, explore their interests, and acquire the skills needed for the future job market.

We anticipate that alongside learning fundamental AI technical knowledge, students will also be provided with opportunities, such as internships and overseas exchange programmes, to hone crucial soft skills and enhance competencies such as, critical thinking, highly effective communication and collaboration, and the ability to solve complex problems. We hope students will not only use innovative technologies but also make ethical judgements and navigate social complexities, collectively driving society in the right direction.“

Ms. Fung Shun-ning, Brenda, Principal of Buddhist Sum Heung Lam Memorial College

“As AI technologies evolve rapidly, tools can become obsolete in a short space of time. Simply mastering how to use a particular tool is therefore insufficient.

To address this challenge, we adopt a “co-creation and collaborative learning” teaching approach, focusing on guiding students to grasp the underlying thought framework for AI applications. We teach them how to ask precise questions, verify AI-generated answers, and utilise AI to solve real-world problems and create value. Once students have mastered this logical mindset, they can apply their skills flexibly to any new technology.

At the same time, maintaining a lifelong learning attitude is fundamental to professional development. Only by cultivating the habit of continuous learning can students navigate this rapidly changing era with confidence and resilience.“

Mr. William Wong, Principal of Man Kwan Pak Kau College

“Amidst the accelerating development of AI technology, our school views AI as a crucial engine for advancing creative education. We actively introduce innovative equipment and curricula, encouraging students to proactively utilise AI for learning and creation, embracing the infinite possibilities this advanced tool brings.

However, the core of education in the AI era is absolutely not merely the simple application of tools, but the holistic enhancement of student qualities. Facing the situation where AI-generated information sometimes is unreliable, we place greater emphasis on cultivating students’ information discernment and critical thinking skills, guiding them to practice the academic attitude of multi-source verification. This is because true learning is never just unidirectional reception, it is gradually formed through prudent exploration and the construction of perspectives. And the cultivation of this ability will also make students more competitive in society.“

Mr. Wong Kin-Ho, Principal of The Yuen Yuen Institute MFBM Nei Ming Chan Lui Chung Tak Memorial College

“Undoubtedly, the most important issue in society today is the rapid development of AI, which is reshaping the skill requirements for talent across various industries. We are actively guiding students to effectively employ this new technology and keep pace with the new trends in teaching and learning.

We are actively integrating project-based learning and application challenges into our curriculum, guiding students to learn how to use AI as a tool to solve real-life problems or transform imaginative ideas into practical outcomes. This extensive hands-on operation not only enables students to master the application of technology but, more crucially, allows them to personally experience the potential and limitations of AI, thereby stimulating their strong interest in the technology field. Most importantly, through these processes of practical application and creation, students can accurately examine and discover their technical potential, logical thinking abilities, and personal aspirations, preparing them to make careful and personal plans for their future education and careers in this era of change.“

Clinton Chan, Graduate of CLAP-TECH, currently a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Management

“Looking back at my childhood, I taught myself programming and electronics using online resources. This spirit of proactive learning and exploration has been invaluable, both during my CLAP-TECH studies and later at university. For me, being able to use AI for self-directed learning not only allows me to quickly explore various new knowledge areas but also enables me to rapidly find solutions when encountering problems, thereby improving efficiency and depth of understanding. With the assistance of AI, I can integrate information and even perform preliminary data analysis; this kind of practical experience is especially valuable while I am still in the learning stage.

Although AI has transformed the way we learn, we still need analytical skills to evaluate the accuracy of information and make effective use of relevant data. Only by using AI smartly can we truly enhance our learning outcomes. I believe that in the future workplace, we will apply AI flexibly to solve problems and improve decision-making efficiency. Learning how to prompt AI will greatly strengthen my competitiveness and open up more opportunities for professional growth.”

Sam Lau, Graduate of CLAP-TECH, currently a start-up entrepreneur running an AI-related start-up

“AI is transforming learning and careers, bringing unprecedented opportunities for the new generation of talent. For me, ever since my first computer class in primary school, I have been deeply attracted by the logic and creativity of programming. During my time studying CLAP-TECH in secondary school, I progressively cultivated my problem-solving and self-directed learning abilities through self-learning programming. This not only improved my technical proficiency but also strengthened my autonomous exploration and innovative thinking. These experiences have made me more effective during my internships and entrepreneurial endeavours.

I believe that mastering AI technology is not just about acquiring a single skill; it simultaneously cultivates systematic thinking and the ability to innovatively solve problems. This helps us to understand complex issues faster, respond flexibly to challenges, and realise true value in the future workplace and innovation sector.“

Horis Ma, Student in the Higher Diploma in Art Tech Design Programme under the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway

“Studying the CLAP-TECH Art Tech Design programme gave me the opportunity to integrate creativity with technology and explore various possibilities for cross-disciplinary design. In the course, I learned to use AI and various design tools, which not only enhanced my technical abilities but also cultivated my skills in self-directed learning and problem-solving.

During last year’s drone bootcamp, through hands-on experience, we gained a deeper understanding of the current market demand for emerging technologies. This experience taught me that even after leaving school and entering the workforce, I would need to maintain curiosity and continuous self-learning to remain competitive in this rapidly changing technological era, especially the AI generation. This kind of experience has not only broadened my horizons, industry knowledge, and skills but has also strengthened my confidence in facing future career challenges.“

Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway

Launched in 2020 and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway (CLAP-TECH) is Hong Kong’s first through-train Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) pathway in mainstream senior secondary and post-secondary education. CLAP-TECH is a tripartite partnership among Hong Kong Baptist University, industry partners, and secondary schools. It currently consists of two Applied Learning Courses (i.e. Tech Basics and Multimedia Storytelling) and Higher Diplomas in Data Science and Art Tech Design. The programme equips students with technical and soft skills for the future workforce by incorporating career and life development into the curriculum. Since its establishment, over 40 industry partners have been involved in the programme, guiding and inspiring over 1,400 students from 90 secondary schools, with over 4,300 instances of programme participation. For more details, please visit: https://www.claptech.hk/en/

Employee Celebrations Continue to Celebrate Eight Decades of Dedication and Innovation

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DSC^®, a global leader in high-performance foam innovation, proudly culminates its 80^th anniversary celebrating its employees around the globe through the end of the year. The anniversary marks eight decades of the people behind DSC^®, advancing high-performance materials rooted in sustainability and innovation. Since 1945, DSC^® employees have remained committed to developing foams and footwear components that reduce environmental impact across design, sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery.

DSC employee celebrations celebrate eight decades of dedication and innovation.

“As we reflect on 80 years, we’re incredibly proud of our teams that have gotten us here through the past eight decades,” said Mei-Fen Wei, Chief Operating Officer of DSC^®. “DSC employees have sparked a revolution to create change and real progress in foam innovation — not only to create a solution for elite performance and comfort, but also to protect and support our planet. At DSC, our team is dedicated to our people, performance, and the planet.”

The company’s sustainability framework, Run the Relay, is driven by DSC’s zero-carbon, zero-waste mission — emphasizing that sustainability is continuous and collaborative across employees, supply chain partners, and manufacturing teams worldwide.

Supporting this mission, DSC’s team continues to expand its local-for-local manufacturing model, enabling DSC^® to deliver premium products with agility, speed, and a reduced transportation footprint, all the while driving industry growth and innovation.

Product is delivered through DSC’s Green Box program, pioneered in 2017. Made from recycled PE material, the reusable Green Box is waterproof and uses Velcro closures instead of tape. Each box can be reused up to 17 times. For every 1,000 green boxes used each year, environmental savings are equivalent to 68 trees saved from deforestation, 1.4 tons of waste diverted from landfill, and 281 kg of carbon emissions avoided.

DREAMCELL^® VELO, launched at The Materials Show, is DSC’s next-generation direct-poured PU insole technology that delivers explosive athletic performance, long-lasting rebound, and near-zero production waste during production. It supports elite speed and agility without compromising durability or sustainability.

In addition, DSC launched its new proprietary DURAPONTEX^® L-TAC foam process, molding at just 120°C—far lower than traditional methods. The technology cuts energy use and carbon emissions in the thermal molding process by up to 50%, while protecting delicate textiles and expanding design flexibility. At scale, the process saves roughly 11,000 kWh per million insoles, the equivalent of powering 300 households for a month.

As DSC^® moves into its next 80 years, it remains focused on its people, performance, and the planet, advancing materials that provide comfort and reduce environmental impact. DSC continues its commitment to Run the Relay and its goals of transparency and growth while providing a premium product that delivers.

For 80 years since its founding in 1945, Dahsheng Company (DSC^®) has been a leader in foam innovation for the sports industries. Known for its premium comfort and performance foam DREAMCELL^® and DURAPONTEX^®, DSC^® partners with top brands and footwear manufacturers worldwide. By advancing innovation and pushing the limits of foam manufacturing, DSC^® is dedicated to creating eco-friendly and advanced foam solutions that set new standards in the industry.

Visit www.dahsheng.com to learn more about DSC^® and its commitment to sustainability and eco-innovation.

Media Contact:
Erin Patterson
t: +1-323-422-0274
e: erin.patterson@writetheskycomms.com

BRISBANE, Australia, Dec. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Global AEC digital transformation leader ARKANCE today announced a partnership with BIMLOGIQ – a powerful new addition to its technology offerings, designed to transform BIM workflows for architecture, engineering and construction professionals.

BIMLOGIQ integrates cutting-edge AI capabilities directly into Autodesk Revit, enabling users to automate repetitive tasks—such as view creation, annotation, tagging, data updates, and modeling workflows—using simple natural-language prompts. By streamlining these processes and reducing manual effort, BIMLOGIQ empowers companies to significantly boost productivity, allowing teams to focus on higher-value work, accelerate project delivery, and improve overall operational efficiency.

The addition of the BIMLOGIQ Copilot and BIMLOGIQ Smart Annotation products has come as the ARKANCE continues to expand and diversify its already extensive AEC tech stack offering including Autodesk, Bluebeam, GoCanvas, Siemens, Adobe, Pinnacle and its own Be.Smart applications.

“We’re thrilled to bring BIMLOGIQ into the ARKANCE tech stack. This isn’t just another plug-in — it’s a pivotal enablement shift in terms of how teams interact with BIM and complements our existing and developing tech stack offering at ARKANCE. By removing manual overhead, we’re giving designers, engineers and BIM managers back their time — and the freedom to innovate,” said Grant Bryce, ANZ Managing Director at ARKANCE.

“Partnering with a global AEC market leader and the largest global Autodesk Platinum partner, ARKANCE, is a significant strategic move forward for BIMLOGIQ. The move will extend our reach and deliver AI enablement in the BIM space across the market landscape in Australia and New Zealand,” said Amir Dezfouli , CEO of BIMLOGIQ.

BIMLOGIQ is now available for subscription through ARKANCE, with flexible licensing options and the ability to support both small teams and large enterprise deployments. Early adopters can request a demo or trial via the ARKANCE website.

To find out more visit www.arkance.world 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Vasili Loizou-van Hoff
Director of Marketing & Operations
ARKANCE ANZ
+61476 392 963
Vasili.loizou-vanhoff@arkance.world 

About ARKANCE 

ARKANCE is a global partner in business and digital transformation for the architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries. We help organizations enhance efficiency and improve how they design, build, and manufacture through solutions grounded in deep industry expertise, platform specialization, and trusted partnerships.

With over 1,200 professionals across 50+ offices in 19 countries and annual revenues exceeding €550 million, we combine global scale with local insight to support complex project delivery. ARKANCE is a subsidiary of the Monnoyeur Group, a global company with more than a century of experience driving industrial transformation.

Learn more at www.arkance.world 

About BIMLOGIQ

BIMLOGIQ is an Australian technology company delivering AI-powered automation tools for the AEC industry. Integrated directly with Autodesk Revit, BIMLOGIQ streamlines documentation, annotation, data management and modelling workflows through natural-language commands — eliminating repetitive tasks and improving accuracy and consistency across projects. By combining deep BIM expertise with advanced AI, BIMLOGIQ helps architecture, engineering and construction teams work faster, reduce manual effort and focus on higher-value design and project outcomes.

Learn more at www.bimlogiq.com